Relative Telomere Length in Leukocytes as a Potential Biomarker of Male Idiopathic Infertility

The relative length of telomeric repeats in peripheral blood leukocytes was assessed in men with idiopathic infertility. A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from men in infertile couples, and a subgroup diagnosed with idiopathic infertility was identified. A control group of apparently healthy fertile men with proven reproductive function was also established. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole venous blood samples. Men with idiopathic infertility exhibited a significantly shorter relative telomere length reduced by approximately 40% in comparison with fertile controls (p < 0.05). This telomere shortening suggests ongoing genomic instability, likely driven by oxidative stress-mediated DNA damage. Although telomere length is emerging as a potential biomarker of male reproductive health, current evidence regarding its role in idiopathic infertility remains limited. The findings presented here highlight the need for further research to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing telomere dynamics in the context of male infertility.